Apparatus for advancing and processing strands



Nov. 17, 1953 A. IIIWING 2,659,225

APPARATUS FOR ADVANCING AND PROCESSING STRANDS Filed Oct. 9, 1947 4 Shbit's-Sheet 1 1N VENTOR fiZvinLEu Qy BY ATTORNEY Nov. 17, 1953 A. L. EWING 5 2 APPARATUS FOR ADVANCING AND PROCESSING STRANDS 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1947 4 SfibgtS-Shet 3 IN VEN TOR.

JZZQZ'IZLE L'W BY A T TORNE'Y Nov. l7, 1953 A. L. EWIN 2,659,225

APPARATUS FOR ADVANCING AND PROCESSING STRANDS Filed Oct). 9, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR fllvinLEwizzy w 3304M ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1953 APPARATUS FOR ADVANCING AND PROCESSING STRANDS Alvin L. Ewing, Richmond, Va., assignor to E. I. du Pont de N emours & Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application October 9, 1947, Serial No. 778,918

Claims. 1

This invention relates to yarn processing apparatus. More particularly, it relates to continuous yarn storing and advancing reels and other advancing mechanisms such as canted or skewed rolls or traveling cylinders and to methods for processing and drying threads in a relaxed state.

Continuously operating yarn storing and advancing reels have been known heretofore, for example, the reels disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 1,938,221 and 2,210,914. Such reels are customarily used in the liquid treatment and drying of yarns in so-called "continuous spinning processes, i. e. continuous operations in which the yarn is spun from filament-forming solutions, subjected to liquid purification treatments, dried and wound in salable packages. The continuously operating yarn storage and advancing reels known heretofore, though commercially adaptable, are not entirely satisfactory in their operation; for example, by reason of rapid wear, non-uniform thread advance, relatively high tension on the yarn, limitation of the length of reels, high investment and maintenance cost, etc. Certain of these disadvantages are also encountered in conventional drying processes. The provision of apparatus and methods for improving yarn quality is a needed advance in the art.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide improved yarn storing and advancing means which overcome some of the objectionable characteristics of previously'kn'own reels.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus for yarn storing and advancing which employs reels or advancing means of simple, strong construction, such as canted rolls or traveling cylinders and the like, and which will function to advance yarns smoothly along the length thereof.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for yarn storing, advancing and drying which is simple, which functions by moving a yarn spirally about the reel and which permits the advancement, processing and drying of the yarn without the application of objectionable tension and without wear. It is also an object of this invention to provide means whereby yarn can be stored and advanced on a reel so that the yarn is in a relaxed state when being treated with a processing liquid and when so treated is at all times covered with a film of the particular liquid. A further object is the provision of means for drying yarn in a relaxed state,

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The above objects are accomplished by first advancing an elastic or expandable, endless strip or belt helically on an advancing reel so that the belt contacts a portion or all of the reel surface as it advances. A plurality of yarns arranged side by side initially under high or low tension as desired, are then laid on the belt surface. These yarns advance from one end of the reel to the other with the belt acting as the direct carrier. The yarns may be either in a relaxed state or under tension during advancement as desired. The belt surface supports a continuous film of applied liquid so that during purification the yarns are at all times covered by a continuous film of liquid and are held in their respective positions on the belt by virtue of their frictional contact with the belt, this contact prevailing throughout the advancement. The yarns after purification are then dried on the same or a similar belt. Relatively free shrinkage of the filaments occurs'during purification and drying so that appreciable tension on the yarn does not develop.

The present invention will be more easily understood by reference to'the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustrations in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric perspective of an advancing means in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is an isometric perspective showing slightly different belt travel and yarn advancing, and a modified drying procedure;

Figure 3 is an isometric perspective showing two belts running on the same reel, one carrying the yarn ends through the purification steps and the other through the drying step;

Figure 4 shows the adaptation of the belt to a canted roll;

Figure 5 is an end view of the modified canted roll shown in Figure 4; v 1

Figure 6 indicates the means of adapting the process to a contact dryer;

Figure 7 is a view taken along lines 1l of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an isometric view of a short section of plain corrugated metal belt; and

Figure 9 shows a combination of the expandable metal belt and a material having a pile surface, the method of joining the ends of the belt being indicated.

Figure 10 shows the contact dryer of Figure 6 with squeeze rolls added.

Figure 11 shows in perspective the adaptation of any of the reels of this invention to use with a contact dryer.

Referring to the figures, reference numeral designates the advancing reel. This may be any reel or advancing mechanism which will advance the belt H as shown in the figures. In general, any advancing reel. whether supported; at one end only or at both ends, which advances yarn is satisfactory, such reels being described, for example, in U. S. 2,317,747 and 2,287,517. To" illustrate, the reel may be constructed with a plurality of sets of parallel yarn carrying: rods (not shown), the rods of each set being adapted to move about a separate orbital path, the plurality of sets of rods mounted about a central-.r.eel shaft l2 to rotate therewith, all of the rods'of; the several sets being connected to rod. reciprocating means adapted to move the said rods simultaneously in one axial direction while they are in belt carrying contact with a belt positioned about the. reel. Sucha. reelis describedin EL S. Patent No. 2,317,147, mentioned above. This invention is not limited to that. particular reel, but may be adapted to any reel or other advancing device based on similar or other principles, provided the device wi-lladvance a belt. spirally in a manner similar to that described herein.. The reel may be. driven by any convenient means such as by an electric motor (not shown).

The belt H is passed around. the guiding pin [3' and then to the carrying means of the. particular reel used. The advancing belt can be advanced so asto completely cover l) or only partially cover (Fig. 2). the reel. A. dryer l4 may be situated around the reel as shown in Figure l or it may be located at any point di'stant from. the reel as shown (element Hill). in Figure 2. The belt ll comes off the reel at the take-off point andv is directed around. the guiding pin it and thence to pin [3" and back, to the reel. Alternatively, as shown, for example, in Figure 2 or in Figure 6,. the belt passes throughthe dryer l lll or over dryer 30' after leaving the reel- The belt may then. pass through squeeze rollers l! and HA and. then to rollers. or pins Hi; l3? and reel'lil in thatorder, as showniniigure 2- Thus, the belt is endlessandis always. advancing. when the reel- I0 is functioning, The pins l3 [6 may be stationary, idling rollers or power driven rollers as desired. The squeeze roller i! may or may not be power driven. as desired and normally roller HA is not driven- Generally,,roller id is power driven by any suitable means (not shown). at speeds somewhat less than the delivery speed from the reel in order to complete the. operation with a minimum. oftensi'onon the yarns. When the apparatus and process of. this invention are employed, it is not necessary to use specially designed reels, such as tapered reels; The filaments are laced on the belt with or without tension and the belt absorbs to an appreciable extent the forces exerted by the advancing reel, thus protecting the filaments from wear and strain.

In- Figure 2, additional squeeze rollers MI and TA may be situated in front of the dryer Md also, but are not necessary at that. location. Squeezing the wet belt H which is carrying wet yarn !8 prior" to drying has the advantage oft decreasing the dryer load. When the arrangement in Figure 2. is employed, it is. desirable to pass the belt H and yarn [8 to squeeze rollers after drying. to facilitate the separation of the belt and the yarn. The squeeze rollers. permit the yarn and belt to be in a relaxed state prior toits passage through the squeeze rollers. The dried yarn is drawn oif the belt under a fairly high tension and the squeeze roll prevents this ten sion from being transmitted to the yarn in the dryer.

The belt ii is always passed to the reel under tension; so that it remains taut on the reel. If a tapered. advancing reel; such as that. shown in Figure 2, is employed, the tension is first adjusted so that at the end having the smallest diameter the belt is taut on the reel. Thus, if the reel has a 6% taper downward from the acid end through the dryer the belt is discharged at the dryer end atalinear. speed 6%; less than the speed at which it returns to the reel at the acid end. The belt isthenstretched suficiently to remove slackness between the point of discharge and point of entry on the reel. As described below, the belt has to be sufiiciently elastic to permit the stretching. The diameter of the take-oil end may be made to approach that of the starting and of the reel. In. this way the discharge and feed. speeds of the belt are approximately the same and very little or no slippage occurs. If it is not desirable to increase the reel diameter. prior to removing the belt, the belt may be passed from the reel. to two power-driven nip. rolls H0 and ifflArotating at. a surface speed equal to the: belt. speed at the discharge end of the reel- In this way the. speed of. the belt is held constant and. slippage is revented. The belt being gripped by the nip rolls is suddenly placed under a high tension between the nip rolls and. the. starting end of. the reel because the peripheral. speed at the starting. end is greater by the percent of reel taper than the peripheral speedlof the nip. rolls. Since the belt is not. carrying. yarns, this increase in tension has no. adverse effects.v These means or preventing. slippage are important because their application. avoids. the development of high tension areas in the yarns.

In Figuresamo dification is shown whereby the load on the dryer is substantially reduced and undue stress on. the advancing mechanism is avoided. Two belts, a purification belt [9 and adryingbelt 2d,.are used! for purification and drying, respectively. Belt lflcarriesthe yarn through the purification steps. After these steps are com.- pleted the belt leaves the reel and passes approximately 180 around. a small. roller 2.1 the axis of which is. parallel. tothat of. reel. Hi. The belt [Q then. passes around another roller 22 which. is situated close to the reel It and has an axis about to. that of roller 2 L This passage ofv belt l9 causes a /4, turn in the belt. The. belt is directed to roller is and then back to the reel. Belt it is, then-, always wet and. never. passes through thedryer IA... It. is possible to-use an absorber belt such as is described in. my copending application Serial No. 702,130, now U. S. Patent No. 2,465,214; issued on March 22, 1949, or squeeze rollers to remcvemost of the. liquid from the belt I 9 and the yarns prior. tofurther processing.

The dryer-belt 20 coming off the reelv at point i5. passes around: roller 16 to the /4,. turn roller 23 which is situated so that it directs the dryer belt 20: as closely as possible to the cit -coming purificationbelt. The dryer belt 20 passes over'roller 2d the axis of. which is.- parallel to roller 21.. As the belt is passes over roiler 21!, theyarn is directed. through transfer comb 25; which is desirable when very closely spaced; multiple endsare being processed- Further, the wiping action of the comb advantageously removes a large" percentage of. moisture. From this comb the' yarn 5, ends pass onto the dryer belt 20 as thebelt 20 passes over roller 24. The yarns then'continue to advance on the reel and are dried as they pass through dryer l4. Take-off and wind-up of yarns is then accomplished in the usual manner. By using the mechanism described above and illustrated in Figure 3 it is necessary tostretch the belts only the amount needed when a single belt is employed. For example a 3% stretch is sufiicient instead of a total of 6% stretch on one belt. At these lower stretch values the change in belt length is taken care of without undue stress on thereel device. Decreased wear and tear and lower dryer loads allow for considerable saving in processing time and costs.

Yarn advancing devices of the canted roller type may also be used as is shown in Figure 4. Rollers 26 and 21 are skewed or in a canted position and are driven through shafts l2 by a motor (not shown). The angle at which the rolls are skewed or canted determines the advancement of the belt II. Guide rolls I60 are used to direct the belt back onto the front end of the top roll. The modification is shown in further detail in Figure 5, an end view.

The dryer It or I40 can be any dryer having the requisite capacity to dry the threads at the advancement speed being used. The dryer may be designed to dry by radiation or direct contact with the yarn carrying belt or a combination of these methods may be employed. Advantageously, dryers specially designed to relax the filaments during drying are obviated by the apparatus and process of this invention. Since the yarns rest in a relaxed state on the belt surface during advancement, shrinkage occurs freely and readily during drying independently of the dryer. As pointed out above, the take-01f speed may be made less than the initial speedto permit greater shrinkage, if such is needed. Further, auxiliary means for drying may be employed. For example, an endless absorbent belt may be passed over the yarn and belt helices as is described in copending application Serial No. 702,130, now U. S. Patent No. 2,465,214, issued on March 22, 1949.

Figure 6 shows the adoption of the belt 28 to a curved contact dryer 3!] which normally replaces dryer I4 or I46. This dryer 30 may or may not contain grooves 33 shown in Figure 7. The belt 28 continuously rotates around the dryer 30 as is shown in Figure 6. The copending application of Conaway and Hitt, Serial No. 720,030, now U. S. Patent No. 2,495,053, issued January 17, 1950, describes these contact dryers. Belt 28 may be replaced by belt I l or belt 20 coming from the advancing device. In Figure 6, for example, yarn I8 is taken from the belt of an advancing reel and passed onto the top of belt 20 as it passes over driven roller 29 over the contact dryer 30 and over idle roller 3!, and the yarn then passes to winder take-up means 32. The belt 20 is then returned to roller l6 and it then continuously rotates around the reel l and the dryer 30. Dryer I4 is not used in this modification. As shown in Figure 10, squeeze rolls 290 and 290a may be used preceding and additional squeeze rolls 3) and 310a following the contact dryer to reduce dryer loads and to relax the yarns over the dryer area. The yarn I8 is carried by belt H, or 28 and the frictional drag caused by the yarn being drawn over normally stationary surfaces is eliminated. This is more clearly shown in Figure 7 which view is taken along lines 1---'! of Figure 6. Thisview shows also, as a possible construction of the dryer, heater elements 34 surrounded by insulation 35. It is preferred to use belts made of heat conductive materials, such as metals and to use dryers having the grooved surfaces shown in Figure 7 since the belt is deflected as it passes through the grooves over the curved surface. Individual or multiple yarn ends may be dried in the manner described above. By use of the belt ll, 20 or 28 on such contact dryers frictional drag on the yarns may be reduced and lower residual shrinkages obtained.

Of course, any of the reels described may be used with a contact dryer. In Figure 11, belt I28 carrying yarn I I8 passes from one end of reel H0, supported on axle H2, over the surface of dryer I30 in contact with it and thence over roller I ll. The yarn leaves the belt at this point, and the belt proceeds to the other end of the reel after passing around additional rollers H6 and H3 in succession. The reel H0 may be any one of the reverse reels referred to herein.

It can be seen from the above description that the yarn sheet It is laid down upon the advancing belt H rather than directly upon the reel bars or carrying or drying means. The yarn i8 is placed on the belt, using a comb such as guide 259, if desired, so that the ends comprise an advancing band which is spaced equidistant from each edge of the belt. The helices in band form remain in this position as the band advances. The band may be composed of a single yarn or a plurality of yarns, as shown in the figures, which come directly from spinnerets or spinning baths (not shown). As the belt H and the yarn band It advance, various processing solutions are employed by any convenient means (not shown) to subject the filaments to any of the yarn processing techniques necessary. For example, perforated pans such at 25! or 252 supplied by appropriate conduits and situated above the reel may be used to apply liquids to the yarn. As the treating liquid drips from the reel, it may be caught in appropriate vessels such as pans such as 253 or 254 placed under the respective treated areas. Thus, the reel may be adapted to most yarn processes.

It is preferred to perform all treating on one reel. This can readily be done as pointed out above, acidic liquids being initially applied to the yarns and water or neutralizing washes being applied before the yarns pass to the drier I4, 560 or 30. It is also possible to treat the yarn with only one treating liquid as it advances on a particular reel, passing the yarns to successive reels for successive treatments and finally for drying and then wind-up. The reels may, in any case, be used in any convenient arrange" ment. Any number of reels may be mounted in a horizontally or a vertically spaced relation. By using a plurality of reels and a plurality of yarns on each reel a very large poundage of yarn may be processed economically.

The yarn advancing mechanism of the present invention may be advantageously used for any purpose where yarn storing concurrent with yarn advancement is of value. For example, this reel is found of utility in the spinning and processing of viscose rayon or other regenerated cellulose yarn, for the processin of cellulose derivative yarn produced by either the wet or evaporative spinning processes and it is of value in the wet, melt or evaporative spinning of any yarn in cluding synthetic polymer yarns to store and advance the yarn while the latter is heated to remove the last traces of solvent. It may be used accuses Z in. theprncessing of yam such as; the application of finishesor sizes to: a; yarn and: the subsequent; drying; thereof where. such process in.- volves the: handling. of considerable lengths of yarnin arelattvely smallispaca.

The bests Hz, so and 2& are composed. of. a material. which resistant to the treating liq uzidsi used; which has an elasticity sufficient to. cause the belt to contact. or stay taut: on. the reel and which; will. withstand the dryer temperatmtes. Materials which may be used". in constructing; the belt nu-elude, rubber, cotton. rayon, belt, sponge, chamois,. metal and plastics such; as nylon, polymerized tetra-fluorethylene; interpolymers. of vinylidcne chloride and vinyl: chloride. neoprene or other plastics. Certain belts suclr. as those. prepared from polymerized; tetrafiuorethylene and metals have zero water absorption. can be. used advantageousbe The choice 01. material andxtheibelt construction willi vary with the different applications of the reels; Various woven or knitted fabrics may be used. In general, any material. which may be advanced onv an advancing reel and which presents. a surface which will support a continuous. film of" liquid. over its. width and i'ength'. and which. will; keep a yarn end in its respective position. as it advances may be used in. this inventi'ona Figure 8 shows a. shortsection. of. a plain. corrugated metalbelt 36 made of an alloy predominately nickel and chromiumv or any of: tho various grades of stainless steel which are resistant to the. purification solutions employed.

belt is expandible and may be joined simply as is shown at point 31 in Figurev 9 by snapping one end in. the corrugations of the other end. The surfaces of the. metal. or plastic sur faces may be roughened or ridged to prevent yarn. slippage. The belting may be roughened or grooved longitudinally to prevent the yarn from slipping sideways. The grooves may be made to correspond to yarn denier and number of yarns. It is preferred togroove the top ridges only so that processing liquids are not? so read ily retained. Smooth, hard. surfaced belts are not-too satisfactory, because they do: not readily support a continuous film of processingv liquids, nor do they adequately keep the: individual yarns in. their respective positions. belts such. as. polymerized tetraflnorethylene belts, keep the. yarn in its respective position; especially well when grooved, and provide the further advantage that they do not absorb liq;- uids. Accordingly, a substantial reduction. in carrying out and mixing of the various processing. liquids. is. obtained and the load. of the dryer is materially reduced when grooved metal or plastic beltsare used.

Various fabricsmay be cementedin a continuous. surface strip to one or both sides of the metal or plastic belts. Figure 9- shows a pile fabric 38 cemented on. one side all the way around. It is also possible to use flat fabrics, sponge materials, natural or. synthetic, and plasticmaterials in. this manner. Figure- 9 also shows the use of a material. 39 having a pile S1113-- face and filling the spring indentations. Sponge and other materials may be used in this manner;

It isalso possible tousea combinationof any of. these materials with a. fabric. belt. For eX-- ample, a spongy material maybe. cemented to a cotton. belt, th belt being then placed so that the spongy surface carries the-yarn; Frequently,

Metal or: plastic av piled. fabric can be employectto advantage since 75 factory,

the: piled. nature of the. fabric assists materially in keeping thevarious yarn endsin place: during advancement.

Generally, the belt approximates the width. of the advancement cycle of the reel. For some reels. belts one-half? inch: in width. are satisfactory while for other reels Widths of. 3 inches? or more depending on diameter of the reel and the advancement cycle. The width of the belt is dependent onthe number of; yarn ends being proc essed; the: width; of the advancing cycle of the reel, the diazneter of the etc. Thebelt: may bejustwfde enough. to support asingle thread or it may have: widths" measured. in feet for use on reels of. great size. adapted to. process warp sheets. The length. of; th belt will. depend upon. the reel length and upon the distance of advance. desired. Likewise, the tlnckness' of the belt isnot critical and it is possible to use relatively thick belts. Themetar belts described above; may be very thin. For example, they may be aslittl'e as 0.002 inch in; thickness. On the other hand belts=of spongelike materials: may bean inch Or more in thickness dependent upon the nature of the particular process or application involved.

The belt may beadvanced on the reel any manner: Each helix maybe situated so that the band of. yarns are closely spaced as shown in Figure 1'. In this way, afilm of liquid may be maintained at all times substantially over the wholelength of the reel or purification area. The film is not broken where a beltwrap-contacts ad'e j'aeentbelt wraps if the beltwidth is equal to the advancing cycle. Advancement of the belt may; upon choosing the proper \m'dth, be conducted so that a space is formed between successive wraps of the belt. This results completely breaking the film between each wrap overthe entire reel or area covered by the purification solutions: Further; the yarn band's may be relatively f'ar apart or closelysp'aced However; the belt maintains a film over the width of each wrap and it does sowhether or not it is carrying yarn. This is animportant; and! outstanding advantage of this invention for theyarn is always being advanced in contact with a treating liquid} and this is true regardless of the distancebetween adj acent yarnsr Optimum treating and maximum emciency in theuse ofthe-vari'ousliquids is thereby obtained. Further, the space required inthe treatment of" the yarn; asin: washing itfree of acid is: no more than that previously required on bare: reelbarsi an: important advantageof the process and. apparatus of this invention lies the ready maintenance or" a film of liquid over the yarns. when the". belt is not used; a yarn band having aannnimum of. 22: en'ds per: inch (150 denier yarn) was required to support a of water, the yarn speed being: 31150 inches per: minute; If the speed varied: more'than 2% or if as many as two yarns dropped out of the: sheet,- tne film of liquid was broken The use-of a wetting agent resulted in more latitude however, still was not satis- On. the other hand; when the belt is used, a. flint ismaintained regardless of thoriumber of yarns running: Thus, individual yarns do notdepend upon the others for" maintenance of the film: and if breakage of" one or more" yarns doesoccur'the yarnsstill running continue tobe properly processed. Further; the reel speed can be varied as as 18% to 20% without ro snlti'ng: in the breaking of the liquid film. A- still further advantage is that no wetting agents are required. The film or liquid extendsall theway around the reel whether the width or the belt is equal to or less than the advancement displacement per cycle. If the belt Width is equal to the advancement cycle, the film is unbroken over the entire area subjected to liquid treatment. If the belt width is less than the advancement cycle, the film is broken between wraps but is maintained across each wrap of the belt as itp'asses around the reel.

Another important advantage of this invention is that the yarn may be advanced under very littl tension and under tension considerably lower than that which obtains when the belt is not used. In a comparison it was found that when the yarn was advanced on bare reel bars it was necessary to maintain a tension of 25 to 35 grams on the yarn. This relatively high tension was required to keep the individual threads properly aligned and to avoid breakage through entanglement. When lower tensions were used, the liquid film or thread alignment could not be maintained. When similar yarn of the same denier is advanced using the apparatus and process of this invention, the threads could be advanced' with tensions on them as low as 2 grams.

Maintenance of th liquid film, when the belt is used, is not as critical on the yarn spinning-speed and thread tensions. The yarns may be laid on the belt I i with any desired tension on them, It is preferred to exert some tension on the yarns as they are laid on the belt since better alignment control is maintained. Under initial tensions of 4 to 5 grams on 100 denier yarn it was found that the yarns maintained good alignment on the belt. Further, just prior to entering the dryer the tension on the yarns was so low that it could not be measured. This indicated that the belt in cooperation with the tapered advancing reel used allowed for changes in the length of the yarn commensurat with the changes in shrinkage or swelling occurring during the different processing stages. Thus, the yarn by the method and apparatus of this invention was processed in a substantially relaxed state under relatively little tension. Generally, the tension on the yarns l 8 after they leave the squeeze rollers l1 shown in Figure 2 and pass to the wind-up means is about 20 grams per denier. This tension is required to insure proper separation of yarns and is not deleterious to the yarns since the purification and drying steps have been completed.

Further, when a yarn destined to be finished as 100 denier by package spinning and processing is processed on the bare reel bars the denier becomes about 91 to 93 denier, whereas under the same processing but using the belt, the resulting denier was 99. correspondingly small losses in other physical properties of the yarn were noted when the belt was employed. By the process and apparatus of this invention it is possible to obtain yarn having a residual shrinkage comparable to that of yarn processed in skein form. For example, when the belt is used only in the purification area, residual shrinkages as low as 3.4% are obtained. The residual shrinkage decreases even further when the belt is used to carry the yarn through the dryer also. The values approach and in certain instances equal those obtained in the skein purification methods in which the yarn is in a relaxed state. When the yarns are processed and dried without the belt, that is, on the bare reel bars, the residual shrinkage in the yarns are materially higher being in the order of 6% to 7 Hitherto, in the drying of bucket cakes, difierent strains are set up in' the cakes so that residual shrinkages vary from the inside, middle to outside of the package. High tension is advantageously avoided and yarn quality is markedly improved by use of the method and apparatus of this invention. I

The apparatus and process of this invention may be applied to the processing or yarn of any denier. For example, yarns of '75, 100 and 150 denier have been advanced on the belt, processed and dried under low tensions and with attendant improvement in yarn quality and residual shrinkages. Yarns of 1100, 1650, and 2200 denier can be similarly processed. The advantages of the process and apparatus are attained with these yarns and with yarns of even lower or higher denier. The total tensions may be varied widely regardless of denier and they may be made considerably lower than those reached in the advancing of the particular yarn on the bare reel bars.

The yarns may be directed to the belt in a horizontal plane or they may approach the belt vertically, as, for example, from a point above the reel, as shown in the figures. The movable parts or advancing means of the particular reel employed place the belts H or 2!! under tension, but the stress and strain in the belt are not imparted to the yarns. Further, assuming the delivery coming off the reel at a constant rate, the speed of squeeze rolls ll may be made 6% to 10% lower than that rate so that the yarn may be relaxed while passing through the dryer M in Figure 2. The belt returns to the reel under tension, the yarns l8 being drawn from the rollers under any desired tensionfor winding at appropriate takeup positions. Thus, the yarn carried on the belt is under a much lower tension than when it is running in direct contact with the moving or carrying means of the reel. For example, yarn has been purified onthe belt under 2 grams tension without the individual yarns getting out of alignment, while like yarn processed under the same conditions on the bare-reel bars required 25 to 35 grams tension to hold proper alignment. Even under this lower tension, the yarn sheet does not become distorted, but remains on the belt as first laid down when starting on the reel. Further, it is protected by the belt against possible abrasion that may result from contact of the yarn with the carrying means of the reel. Tearing and scuffing are eliminated. Yarn of higher quality is produced. For example, yarn in direct contact with bars often has filaments of adjacent ends 'disarranged and overlapping at the contact points. These generally cause broken filaments especially if tucked under an adjacent wrap. This condition is eliminated by using the process and apparatus of this invention. Physical properties of the yarn are improved by use of the belt since there is less stretching of yarn during processing. Yarn having residual shrink" ages of 3.5% and lower have been produced by use of the method and apparatus described herein as compared to 6% or more residual shrinkage obtained on the bare reel bars under the same processing conditions.

Still another advantage is that the belt prevents residues from forming on the yarn carrying means during drying. Very little or no treating liquid comes into contact with the movable parts of the reel. The belt may be continuously washed prior to its return to the reel (at any point between pins l3 and i6, for example) so that it is always being used on the reel in a clean, fresh scribed details Without departing from the nature and spirit of the inv ntion, it to be imderstood that the invention is not to be limited to the det ils describedherei-n except as set iorth in the ppended claims.

.I claim:

:1. Apparatus gior advancing filaments which comprises an advancing reel; ,means ,for drivin said reel; an endless. absorbent and resilient belt helically wound on and .helically travelling on said reel by virtue of its inner surface being driving contact with said reel. its outer surface being :free to carry said filaments; guides for directing said belt to and from said real in an endless fashion; guides for directing said filaments to and from the outer surface of said belt; and means for removing said belt from said reel, said removal means being adapted to "be driven at a speed lower than the speed of said reel.

2. Apparatus :for advancing filaments which comprises an advancing reel; means for driving said reel; an endless, absorbent and resilient belt helically wound onand helically travelling on said reel by virtue of its inner surface being in driving contact with said reel, its outer surface being free to carry :said filaments; .g-uidesior directing said belt to and from said reel in an endless fashion; guides for directing filaments to and from the outer surface of said belt; and squeeze rolls through which said .belt carrying said filaments passes upon leaving said reel prior :to :the separation of said filaments from said belt and return of said' belt to said reel.

3. Apparatus for advancing and processin filaments which comprises an advancing reel; means for driving said reel; an endless, absorbent and resilient belthelically wound on :and'helically travelling on said reel by virtue :of its inner surface being in driving contact with said reel, its outer surface being free to carry said filaments and to receive a processing liquid for said filaments; guides for directing said belt to and-from said reel in an endless fashion; guides for directing said filaments to .and from the outer surface of said belt; an applicator for applying said liquid to said filaments as they are carried by said belt; a dryer for drying the resultant' processed filaments as they are carried by said belt;

12 and means dor removin said elt ;.from said reel. said removal :means be ng adapt d t be driven at aspeedlower than-the speed of said reel.

4. Apparatus :for advancing and processin filaments which comprises an advancing reel; means for driving said reel; an endless, absorbent and resilient belt helically wound on and helically travelling on said reel by virtue of its inner surface being in driving contact with said reel, its outer surface being free to carry said filaments and to receive a processing'liquid; guides for directing said be'l txto and from said reel in an endless fashion; guides for directing filaments to andfromtheouter surface .of said belt; an applicater for applying a processing liquid to said filaments as they are carried -by said belt; a dryer for drying-the resultant processed filaments asthey are carried by the said belt; and squeeze rolls through which said belt carrying said filaments passes upon leaving said reel prior to the separation of said belt and said filaments followed by the return of said belt to said reel.

'5. Apparatus for advancing yarn which comprises an advancing reel; means for driving said reel; an endless, absorbent and resilient belt helicallywound on and helically travelling on said reel by virtue of its inner surface being in driving contact with said reebits outer surface being free to carry said filaments; guides for directing said belt 'to and from said reel in an endless fashion; and means for removing said belt from said reel, said removal means being adapted to be driven at a speed lower than the speed of said belt .on the reel.

ALVIN L. EWING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name .Date

301,035 Tombew June 24, 1884 568,586 Richards Sept. 29, 1896 1,185,766 Brunger June 6, 1916 1,991,324 Keech Feb. 12, 1935 12,020,057 Hartmann et a1. Nov. 5, 1935 2,041,338 Harrison May 19, 1936 2,195,125 Smith Mar. 26, 1940 2,251,931 .Gunde'lfinger Aug. 12, 1941 2,216,605 Andrews Mar. 17, 1942 2,303,123 Johannessen Nov. 24, 1942 2,317,747 Ewing Apr. 2'], 1943 2,353,219 Gapstafl July 11, 1944 2,368,386 'Tarbox Jan. 30, 1945 2,384,691 'Nott Sept. 11,1945 

